Gartner®: Avoid Mobile Application Security Pitfalls

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Gartner®: Avoid Mobile Application Security Pitfalls

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My Google Cloud Key leaked! What should I do?

What is a Google Cloud Key and how it is used?

Google Cloud Key is a managed service that allows developers to securely store, manage, and access sensitive information such as API keys, passwords, and encryption keys.

Google Cloud Key is used for:

  • Securely store and manage sensitive information such as API keys, passwords, and encryption keys.
  • Control access to resources by granting permissions to specific keys, allowing only authorized users or services to access sensitive data.
  • Provide a centralized solution for managing and rotating keys, enhancing security and compliance with best practices.

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1. Code snippets to prevent Google Cloud Key hardcoding using environment variables

Using environment variables for storing sensitive information like Google Cloud Key in code is considered secure because:

  • Environment variables are not hard-coded in the codebase, reducing the risk of accidental exposure.
  • Environment variables are stored outside of the code repository, adding an extra layer of protection.
  • Environment variables can be easily managed and updated without altering the code.
  • Access to environment variables can be restricted based on user permissions, enhancing security.

How to secure your secrets using environment variables

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2. Code snippet to prevent Google Cloud Key hardcoding using AWS Secrets Manager

Using AWS Secrets Manager to manage Google Cloud Keys is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the Google Cloud Key from AWS Secrets Manager.

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3. Code snippet to prevent Google Cloud Key hardcoding using HashiCorp Vault

Using HashiCorp Vault for managing Google Cloud Keys is a great way to enhance security. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages for securely handling a Google Cloud Key using HashiCorp Vault.

Remember to replace the VAULT_ADDR and VAULT_TOKEN with your Vault server address and authentication token. The snippets assume that the Google Cloud Key is stored under the api_key field within Vault. The specifics of the Vault path and field names should be adjusted to match your Vault setup.

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4. Code snippet to prevent Google Cloud Key hardcoding using CyberArk Conjur

Using CyberArk Conjur to manage Google Cloud Key is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the Google Cloud Key from CyberArk Conjur.

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How to generate a Google Cloud Key?

To generate a Google Cloud Key, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Google Cloud Console website.
  2. Sign in with your Google account.
  3. Create a new project or select an existing project.
  4. Click on the menu icon in the top left corner and navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials.
  5. Click on the "Create credentials" button and select API key.
  6. Your API key will be generated and displayed on the screen. Copy this key and securely store it for future use.

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My Google Cloud Key leaked, what are the possible reasons?

There are several reasons why a Google Cloud Key might have been leaked:

  • 1. Insecure storage: If the key was stored in a plaintext file or hardcoded in the code, it could have been easily accessed by unauthorized users.
  • 2. Improper access control: If the key was shared with individuals who did not have a need-to-know or was not properly restricted in terms of who could access it.
  • 3. Weak encryption: If the key was encrypted using weak algorithms or methods, it could have been decrypted by attackers.
  • 4. Social engineering: If attackers were able to trick someone into revealing the key through phishing or other manipulation tactics.
  • 5. Lack of monitoring: If there were no systems in place to monitor and detect unauthorized access to the key, it could have been leaked without anyone noticing.

What are the risks of leaking a Google Cloud Key

When it comes to Google Cloud Keys, it is crucial for developers to understand the risks associated with leaking these sensitive credentials. Here are some specific risks that developers should be aware of:

  • Data Breaches: Leaking a Google Cloud Key can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data stored on the cloud platform, potentially resulting in a data breach.
  • Financial Loss: Hackers who gain access to a Google Cloud Key can incur significant financial losses by using the compromised credentials to run expensive cloud services or access paid resources.
  • Reputation Damage: A data breach or security incident resulting from a leaked Google Cloud Key can severely damage the reputation of the organization, leading to loss of customer trust and business opportunities.
  • Legal Consequences: Depending on the nature of the data accessed using the leaked credentials, there may be legal implications and regulatory fines that the organization could face.

Therefore, it is essential for developers to follow best practices in secret management and detection to prevent the leakage of Google Cloud Keys and protect the security of their organization's cloud infrastructure.

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Google Cloud Key security best practices

  • Avoid embedding the secret directly in your code. Instead, use environment variables or secrets managers
  • Secure storage: store the Google Cloud Key in a secure location, such as a password manager or a secrets management service.
  • Regular rotation: periodically rotate the API key to minimize the risk of long-term exposure.
  • Restrict permissions: apply the principle of least privilege by only granting the key the minimum necessary permissions.
  • Monitor usage: regularly check the usage logs for any unusual activity or unauthorized access attempts.
  • Implement access controls: limit the number of users who have access to the secret and enforce strong authentication measures.
  • Use a secrets manager: utilize secret management tools like CyberArk or AWS Secrets Manager for enhanced security.

By adhering to the best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk associated with Google Cloud Key usage and improve the overall security of your Google Cloud Key implementations.

Exposing secrets on GitHub: What to do after leaking Credential and API keys

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Google Cloud Key leak remediation: what to do

What to do if you expose a secret: How to stay calm and respond to an incident [cheat sheet included]

How to check if Google Cloud Key was used by malicious actors

  • Review Access Logs: Check the access logs of your Google Cloud Key account for any unauthorized access or unusual activity. Pay particular attention to access from unfamiliar IP addresses (if you haven’t set up a specific allow list) or at odd hours.
  • Monitor Usage Patterns: Look for anomalies in the usage patterns, such as unexpected spikes in data access or transfer.
  • Check Active Connections and Operations: Review the list of active connections and recent operations on your database. Unusual or unauthorized operations might indicate malicious use.
  • Audit API Usage: If possible, audit the usage of your API key through any logging or monitoring services you have integrated with Google Cloud Key. This can give insights into any unauthorized use of your key.

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Steps to revoke the Google Cloud Key

Generate a new Google Cloud Key:

  • Log into your Google Cloud Key account.
  • Navigate to the API section and generate a new API key.

Update Services with the new key:

  • Replace the compromised key with the new key in all your services that use this API key.
  • Ensure all your applications and services are updated with the new key before deactivating the old one.

Deactivate the old Google Cloud Key:

  • Once the new key is in place and everything is functioning correctly, deactivate the old API key.
  • This can typically be done from the same section where you generated the new key.

Monitor after key rotation:

  • After deactivating the old key, monitor your systems closely to ensure that all services are running smoothly and that there are no unauthorized access attempts.

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How to understand which services will stop working

  • Inventory of services: keep an inventory of all services and applications that utilize your Google Cloud Key.
  • Communication and documentation: Ensure that your team is aware of which services are dependent on the key. Maintain documentation for quick reference.
  • Testing: before deactivating the old key, test your services with the new key in a staging environment. This helps in identifying any services that might face issues post rotation.
  • Fallback strategies: Have a fallback or emergency plan in case a critical service fails after the key rotation. This might include temporary measures or quick rollback procedures.

In summary, the remediation process involves identifying potential misuse, carefully rotating the key, and ensuring minimal disruption to services. Being proactive and having a well-documented process can greatly reduce the risks associated with a compromised API key.

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What about other secrets?

GitGuardian helps developers keep 350+ types of secrets out of source code. GitGuardian’s automated secrets detection and remediation solution secure every step of the development lifecycle, from code to cloud:

  • On developer workstations with git hooks (pre-commit and pre-push);
  • On code sharing platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket;
  • In CI environments (Circle CI, Travis CI, Jenkins CI, GitHub Actions, and many more);
  • In Docker images.

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Environment Variables
Environment Variables
Environment Variables

charge

nullable string

For card errors, the ID of the failed charge.

payment_method_type

nullable string

If the error is specific to the type of payment method, the payment method type that had a problem. This field is only populated for invoice-related errors.

doc_url

nullable string

A URL to more information about the error code reported.

request_log_url

nullable string

A URL to the request log entry in your dashboard.

charge

nullable string

If the error is specific to the type of payment method, the payment method type that had a problem. This field is only populated for invoice-related errors.

Hide
Show
child attributes

type

enum

For some errors that could be handled programmatically, a short string indicating the error code reported.

charge

nullable string

If the error is specific to the type of payment method, the payment method type that had a problem. This field is only populated for invoice-related errors.

Hide
Show
child attributes

type

enum

For some errors that could be handled programmatically, a short string indicating the error code reported.

payment_intent

nullable object

The PaymentIntent object for errors returned on a request involving a PaymentIntent.

setup_intent

nullable object

The SetupIntent object for errors returned on a request involving a SetupIntent.

Hide
Show
child attributes

type

enum

For some errors that could be handled programmatically, a short string indicating the error code reported.

Hide
Show
child attributes

type

enum

For some errors that could be handled programmatically, a short string indicating the error code reported.

CLIENT LIBRARIES

$ gem install stripe
$ pip install stripe
$ composer require stripe/stripe-php
MAVEN
<dependency>
  <groupId>com.stripe</groupId>
  <artifactId>stripe-java</artifactId>
  <version>24.16.0</version>
</dependency>

GRADLE
compile "com.stripe:stripe-java:24.16.0"
$ npm install --save stripe
$ go get github.com/stripe/stripe-go/v76
$ nuget install Stripe.net
SHOW
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